Iran will no longer allow Indian citizens to enter the country without a visa starting November 22, 2025. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed the development, explaining that Tehran has withdrawn the visa-free entry option for Indian travellers after noticing growing misuse of the facility by criminal networks.

According to the MEA, a rising number of Indians were being persuaded to travel to Iran with false promises of jobs or onward movement to other countries. Many individuals travelled under the impression that visa-free entry would help them reach better opportunities abroad. However, several of these travellers were reportedly trapped by organised gangs once they landed in Iran.

The ministry highlighted alarming incidents where Indian nationals were kidnapped for ransom soon after entering the country. Criminal groups allegedly targeted innocent people using the visa waiver loophole, creating serious safety concerns. To stop such exploitation, Iran decided to put the visa exemption on hold for regular Indian passport holders.

With this change, all Indian citizens whether travelling for tourism, transit, or any other purpose will now require a valid visa to enter or pass through Iran. The MEA has urged travellers to stay alert and avoid agents claiming to offer visa-free travel or guaranteed employment in Iran.

This is not the first time the Indian government has warned citizens about fraudulent job offers linked to Iran. Earlier in September, the MEA issued a similar advisory after multiple cases surfaced where Indians were deceived with fake employment opportunities, only to be kidnapped upon arrival. Authorities stressed that such scams are often tied to trafficking and illegal migration networks.

The government has again reminded people that Iran permitted visa-free entry to Indians only for tourism, and not for jobs or onward international travel. Any agent promising work opportunities using the visa-free entry route may be associated with criminal operations, the advisory noted.

One recent case that drew national attention involved four residents from Gujarat who were held captive in Tehran. They had travelled to Iran through an agent who claimed he would move them further to Australia using a chain of handlers across multiple countries. Once they reached Tehran, the four were abducted, and two of them were assaulted. Their families later received a video of the attack along with a ransom demand of nearly ₹2 crore.

The matter gained urgency after their village representatives and local political leaders escalated it to senior state officials. Coordination between Indian and Iranian authorities eventually led to the rescue of all four men.

The MEA has once again appealed to Indian nationals to stay vigilant, avoid suspicious job offers abroad, and refrain from trusting agents who promise overseas opportunities through shortcut routes. With the suspension of the visa waiver, all travel to Iran now requires proper documentation and verification to ensure safety.

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